Implementing the most effective fleet policy has thus become accessible not only to the chosen few with significant funds or international know-how, but above all to companies lacking experience in managing their own fleet. CFM companies, through services such as Full Service Leasing (FSL), enable their clients to be maximally relieved in terms of time and effort required to manage a vehicle fleet.
– Long-term vehicle rental combined with management is a service that has made car leasing simple, convenient, and, above all, accessible. One of the greatest advantages of CFM is the transfer of fleet administration duties from the client to the lessor. Additionally, regardless of the client’s experience, CFM companies provide comprehensive consulting on fleet policy, ranging from assistance in selecting car models to solutions that allow for the optimization of vehicle park costs – says Artur Sulewski, Commercial Director at LeasePlan Fleet Management.
Choosing the specifications, brands, and models of cars is the first step in the fleet design process. The leasing company’s experience will be very useful when analyzing the client’s needs in terms of future vehicle usage. This applies to both the purpose of the cars and related factors, e.g., car class, engine capacity, cargo space, service availability, depreciation, fuel types, etc. All these elements must be carefully selected so that the vehicle fleet can operate effectively and generate optimized costs. Another issue that has a key impact on shaping fleet policy is company vehicle insurance.
– At the fleet design stage, the leasing company also conducts a loss analysis based on reports and fleet loss categories. Thanks to this, the client has the opportunity to learn about the mechanisms that determine the insurance rate for their fleet. If necessary, the CFM company can also propose solutions helpful in reducing company vehicle losses, e.g., advanced driving courses for drivers – says Jarosław Adamkiewicz, Insurance Manager at LeasePlan.
Both assistance in selecting individual car specifications and solutions aimed at eliminating unnecessary costs generated by the fleet allow clients to optimally select their vehicle park. However, CFM companies do not limit themselves only to the basic scope of consulting, which is somewhat essential in their daily operations related to fleet management. For clients interested in services beyond the standard framework, they offer tools such as supporting the company’s existing incentive system or ecological services.
– One of the elements worth considering at the fleet design stage can also be the motivational role of the tool that is a car. We are currently dealing with a shortage and high turnover of employees, so motivating current employees and building an image of a friendly employer for future employees is becoming one of the most important elements of a company’s strategy. As research shows, a company car is very often mentioned on par with salary as a factor deciding on a job change – says Artur Sulewski, Commercial Director at LeasePlan Fleet Management.
Leaving employees complete freedom in choosing a company car would inevitably lead to chaos and huge costs – the necessity of signing contracts with various suppliers and negotiating discounts would drag on indefinitely. Thanks to fleet outsourcing, clients no longer have to limit themselves to one or two car brands. A CFM company has negotiated discounts and established cooperation terms, and possesses data on vehicle failure rates and service availability. Employers are increasingly allowing their employees to choose the car model and its standard, while only specifying the level of monthly vehicle maintenance costs. The motivational effect of such a simple action can be surprising when an employee can decide on choosing a car tailored not only to company standards but also to personal preferences.
– An opposite example could be a situation where a company has negotiated an extremely favorable discount on a car like a Volvo C30 or BMW 1 – a modern, avant-garde vehicle, perfect as a brand image carrier for an innovative and uncompromising company. At first glance, a dream for most employees. But would an employee with two children, commuting 30 km to work every day, for example, really be thrilled with such a car? – asks Artur Sulewski rhetorically.
In addition to helping match the vehicle selection strategy for individual employee levels, CFM companies also advise their clients on shaping overall fleet policy. In particular, this concerns issues such as the basis for allocating company cars and the rules for their use (driver responsibilities).
– Cooperation with a CFM company was the result of our decision to change the way we manage our fleet. Previously, company cars belonged to our company. The change involved moving to full vehicle outsourcing – says Katarzyna Gutmańska, HR Director at Coca-Cola Services. – This entire process took place in close cooperation with two LeasePlan advisors, who participated from beginning to end in the entire process of designing the fleet and the new vehicle management policy. This type of cooperation between a Car Fleet Management company and a client is very comfortable, especially due to the constant presence and availability of advisors at the client’s company. Thanks to the application of such a solution, the entire change process went quickly and efficiently.
Consulting services of leasing companies are not limited only to assistance in the fleet design phase, but often cover the entire period of cooperation with the client. This type of ongoing support most often concerns issues related to legal and tax changes as well as financial and fiscal solutions.
Fleet outsourcing is a solution that allows for minimizing costs related to the company vehicle fleet and enables full utilization of the potential of additional services and tools, which are unavailable in the case of traditional car purchases. With the development of the CFM sector, the scope of activities of leasing companies is successively expanding, to the benefit of their clients. Long-term vehicle rental combined with management allows for combining the advantages of traditional leasing with full administrative and operational care of the fleet. Consulting services offered by CFM companies allow clients to perform a detailed analysis of the possibilities that fleet outsourcing brings and to choose those elements from the lessor’s offer that best meet their needs.